Excerpts from Part One, "Imagining Violet"

Hotel Schirmer,

Königs Platz, Cassel, Germany

Thursday, 25th May, 1891

Dear Birdie,

At last, dear sister, we have arrived in Cassel. After four long, long days of travel, Mama insists that I rest. But I am so impatient to see the town that I cannot sit still. I am not allowed to venture out alone, but must wait until Mama is ready. But I am ever so restless!

And I am all aflutter to meet my new violin teacher and begin lessons. I must not waste a minute if I am going to take the entrance examination at the Conservatory in the autumn. I know you think I am proud and a little foolish to dream of performing on a concert stage, but being accepted into the Conservatory is very important to me.

When she returns to Edinburgh, Mama will have much to tell you about our journey. But I shall write about it as well as I intend my letters to serve as an account of my exciting new life. Please keep them for me, will you, dear Birdie?

I need not write about coming down from Edinburgh to London. I am glad, though, that we took the morning train, as the rest of the journey was indeed rather arduous.

The first interesting part was the paddle steamer passage. We went aboard at Queenborough at ten o'clock at night. I was disappointed that we were to sail overnight, because by the time we embarked it was too late, in Mama's opinion, to explore the vessel as I should have liked to do. The Flushing Line runs two crossings a day, but Mama chose the overnight passage so that we should not have to spend the next night on the train.

I liked the Prinses Marie. She is much larger than the packets we have taken on our visits to Ireland and I believe she is the largest paddle steamer in their fleet. We shared a cabin with two large,good-natured Dutchwomen but we could not communicate very well. They smiled a great deal, but they almost filled up the small space, if it is not unkind to say so. Oh well, it was only for the one night and I am determined to treat everything as part of the adventure.

We were both fearful of sea sickness, and felt ourselves lucky to have a quiet crossing. Indeed both Mama and I slept well enough, despite the narrow bunks and the discomfort of sharing a cabin with strangers.

To wake up in the morning and find oneself in Holland, in Europe – now that was thrilling! In Flushing, or Vlissingen perhaps I should say now that I am in Europe, the Customs Officers were very nice and polite. Please tell Papa for me.

On the train, we very much appreciated the air cushions which Aunt Kate gave us as a going-away present. Although they are not quite the latest thing – a passenger in our compartment had one of the new Melon cushions – we found that ours are rather more convenient. When emptied, ours roll up and fit neatly into a pocket.

My new travelling costume served me well. I know I had complained about it, but it was very suitable for travel. And my new petticoat – the one of striped Oxford shirting – was much more sensible than a white one. I was glad I had brought my tam, so that I could remove my straw hat and rest my head against the back of the seat. What a good thing I listened to Miss Mackenzie's advice. Do you remember her? The very tall girl who was ahead of me at Mr. Waddell’s Music School? She has been at the Conservatorium in Leipsic for a year now.

There is much to learn about travelling. I was curious about the brightly coloured circles some passengers had painted on the ends of their trunks. But later I could see that it was good deal easier for those people to recognize their belongings. I shall certainly do that when next I travel by train.

I shall stop here, Birdie, as finally Mama is ready to go out and I most certainly do not wish to keep her waiting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, 26th May, 1891

Dear Birdie,

Mama said we must first go to meet Frau Brimmer where I am to lodge, so we have paid a call and I believe Mama is satisfied that I shall be well looked after. But I cannot yet meet Herr Kaletsch, the violin teacher, until he returns from a short trip. I should not be so impatient but passing the entrance exam means everything to me. If I fail, this is all for naught!

But before we start off sight-seeing, I want to tell you more about the train journey. Our second-class compartment from Vlissingen was comfortable, and as we had taken care to find a ladies' compartment labelled, “Für Nicht Raucher”, we were not bothered by people smoking. Happily I had the window seat facing forward and I was in charge of opening and closing the window which I also liked.

In Antwerp we had an hour's delay and as we were hungry we decided to visit the refreshment room. This was not, dear Birdie, a pleasant experience. It was very crowded and there was a long queue and honestly these people do not seem to have the habit of queuing, so there was a good deal of pushing and shoving. We had a struggle to find a place to sit and by the time we had been served, it was nearly time to leave, so we ate in great haste with no possibility of taking a sweet or coffee. Someone had told us to avoid the pastries “as we would the plague” – I do not know why – and the puddings looked unappetizing in any case.

I have quickly learned, dear sister, that travel is full of mystery. One is forever wondering the why of things but one cannot get an answer. Another time we could order a refreshment basket and enjoy our food at leisure. That is what I shall do when I come home at Christmas.

Indeed one of our fellow passengers had such a basket and when she was finished eating, she did the oddest thing. She took a silver toothpick from her large handbag and proceeded to use it, in public. I did not know where to look.

There was another very long stop at the German border and once again we were obliged to fetch out all our luggage. Mama had taken care to watch where our cases went and she cleverly found a porter straightaway to see our trunks and boxes through Customs, so that was all right.

I was worried about the tea. Miss Mackenzie had warned that one cannot get good tea in Germany and said she always carries tea with her when she leaves home, so Mama had packed several ounces in her valise. I had not asked Miss Mackenzie how much was allowed and I was fearful that it might be confiscated, or worse. Mama was not at all flustered and said confidently that we had nothing to declare, and we were sent on our way. I still do not know just how much tea is permitted.

Here is another odd thing. You know, Birdie, how we sit in complete silence amongst strangers in a railway carriage at home? Well, on this train, people coming and going from our carriage would nod or bow to each other, to complete strangers, when they entered or left the carriage. And they spoke to each other, although it seemed obvious that they did not know each other. Mama was rather perturbed by this but I am beginning to think that it is a more natural way of behaviour, especially when one is cooped up with others for hours in a railway carriage.

But my goodness, Birdie, how rude the guards were! At home we are used to railway guards being helpful and respectful, but at the border one guard practically bawled at us as we came hurrying along the platform after we were finished with the Customs officials. Of course we could not run! .........

and several pages later ...

Braustrasse 4, Leipzig

Sunday, 16th October, 1891

Dear Mama and Papa,

I hope Birdie has shared her letter with you and that my last postcard reached you. I shall not repeat all that I wrote about my pension. I have learned that in Germany this city is spelled Leipzig, so I shall use that spelling from now on.

The date is fixed for my examination! It will be on the tenth of November which is less than one month from now. I shall have to do nothing but practise if I am to pass and even so, I may not succeed. I do not know what I shall do if I fail.

My tutor, Miss Taylor, is very plain spoken. She is a dedicated student who says proudly that she never visits cafés or mixes with the Anglo-American students. We shall meet twice a week for the next month. Apparently it is the usual thing for senior pupils like Miss Taylor to tutor younger ones. This is how she can gain some experience of teaching since mostly everyone who graduates from the Conservatorium goes on to teach at some time.

I am working hard on my audition pieces, and Miss Taylor has already made several suggestions for small changes. Fräul. Hohmann told me that I must not be disappointed if Herr Sitt puts me off until the start of Easter term which is when the new courses usually begin. And because I am not yet seventeen, she says I should not be in a hurry. In any case, Herr Sitt is very famous and of course only teaches the most senior students. Mr. Waddell’s letter of introduction was flattering and I hope that might help my case. I hope I do not disappoint.

I assure you that Fräul. Hohmann is very strict with us here at Braustrasse, as I know you would wish it to be. You must not worry. The house is comfortable enough and I feel cosy in my small chamber. I shall have to be very tidy indeed if I am going to have room to work on my drawing. My window faces north and that is a good light for drawing, I believe. Whilst I practise, I confess I am often distracted looking down at the street where there is a good deal of traffic with carts and carriages rattling along all the time. In the evening, Fräul Hohmann's large sitting room is always welcoming and warm with a fire on chilly nights in the big porcelain stove in the corner. I must say these stoves are a brilliant invention and we should have them at home. There is no smoke and no dirty ash and they simply radiate heat all through the room.

There are three other young ladies besides myself in our pension. Miss Lily Foster is a friendly English girl in her second year of piano studies. Her home is London and I hope she may become a friend. Miss Annabelle Donaldson hails from Boston. She is over twenty and has been here three years and like Miss Foster, she is studying piano. Fräulein Frieda Hilz, who studies voice, comes from Hamburg and is living in our pension in order to practise her English. Sometimes we three English speakers try to have a “German” supper, but we rarely get through the meal without lapsing into English.

I hope you will not object, but I have decided that I shall try out the different church services that are conducted in English. Miss Foster prefers the All Saints Church, but I am curious to attend service at the American Church as well as the English services at the Alte Thomas Schule. If I feel very adventurous, I may go to the Union Evangelical Church as well.

I have found a new tutor for German lessons thanks to my landlady's help. She is accustomed to having English-speaking boarders, so it should be no surprise that she could recommend someone. She sent me to meet one gentleman who did not have time for me, but then he sent me along to someone I think I shall like much better, a young man by the name of Herr Joseph Schneider who is a student at the university. I had my first lesson with him last week and I believe I am going to make very good progress. He takes an interesting approach to our lessons, escorting me on pleasant walks around the city. He teaches me the names of places and things and asks simple questions which I must answer in German. It is a great deal nicer than conjugating verbs with old Herr G. ........